Toy airplane device



March 30, 1937. E. A. cHRlsTlANsl-:N 075,257

TOY AIRPLANE DEVICE Filed July 18, 1936 5 Srxeevts-Sheet l vll INVENTORATTORNEY March 30, 1937. A. cHRlsTiANsEN 2,075,257

TOY AIRPLANE DEVICE Filed July 18, 193e s sheets-'sheet 2 lNvrsN- rogafrederic A. C/)nslzam'efz BY l TORNEY F. A. CHRISTIANSEN TOY AnIRPLANEDEVI CE Filed July 18, 193e s Sheets-sheet s March 30, 1937.

vPatented Mar. 30, 1937 'roy AIRPLANE nnvroi:

Frederic A. Christiansen, New York, N. Y.,

assignor to Bertram Barr, New York,

Application July 18, 1936, Serial No. 91,369 9 claims. (C1. 27a-31) Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in a toy airplanedevice.

The invention has for an object the construc- .tion of a toy airplanedevice which is characterized by 4a tower anda plurality of armsassociated with the tower in a particular manner, and sup` portingairplanesso that the airplanes may loop-the-loop as well as circle thetower.

Specifically, the invention contemplates partlcular mechanism foraccomplishing various motions of the airplane.

It is an object of this invention to arrange a vertical hollow shaftrotatively supported in the tower and xedly supporting -a drum, toarrange an internal shaft rotative through the hollow shaft, to supportthe airplanes indirectly upon the internalshaft, and to provide anarrangement for rotating the drum and for holding the internal or hollowshaft to obtain the motions de- 20 sired, and also to bring the deviceto a stop if so` desired. Another object of the invention is theconstrue# tion of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable andwhich may be manufactured and 25 sold ata reasonable cost.` For furthercomprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantagesthereof, reference will be had to the following description andaccompanying drawings, and to the appended 30 claims in which thevarious novel features of. the

invention are more particularly set'forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of thisdisclosurez" Fig. 1 is a'plan view of a device constructed ac- 35cording to this invention.A

. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3+3of Fig. 2.

Flg. 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sec- 40 tional view of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is` a. horizontalsectional view taken on theline 5-.5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 isa sectional view taken on the line 6--6 'of Fig. 4. Fig. '7 isa fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

` Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 but illus# trating a modifiedconstruction.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of Fig. 8.

50 Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view showing anothermodified form of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of another modified form of the invention. A

Fig. 12is a fragmentary horizontal sectional 55 view taken on the unelz-lz of Fig. 11.

The toy airplane device, according to this invention, comprises a hollowtower III in which a vertical hollow. shaft II is rotatively supported.This vertical hollow shaft I I consists of a bottom section IIb and atop section- IIa which extend from. the top of the tower I0. Thesesections II- and I IlI are iixedly connected together by welding. A drumI2 is coaxially xed on the upper end of the top section IIa. An internalshaft I3 is rotatively supported in the hollow shaft II and extends fromthe top end thereof. A support I4 is rotatively mounted on the extendedportion Aof the internal shaft I3 and is connected with a Ygear I5 whichmeshes with gear teeth I6 formed t on one edge of the drum I2.

with aipinion 20 which meshes with gear teeth 2I formed on the otheredge of the drum I2.

A radial arm 22 projects from the support I4 and is adapted to supportan airplane 23. This radial arm has a longitudinal inner end portion221@l which continues into a transverse intermediate portion 22b whichin turn continues into a longitudinal outer end portion 22. 'Iheairplane 23 is attached upon the outer end portion 22. The

connection between the airplane and the radial arm is such that theairplane may ba'nk one way or the other, and may also tilt upwards ordownwards. This is accomplished by the arm portion 22 swivelly engaginginto a lug 24 of a bracket v25 which is provided with a trunnion 26, theelements of -which are at right angles to the arm portion 22C. The bodyof the airplane is formed with a hollow 23 in which the bracket 2571sdisposed. It should be noted that the airplane 23 may turn about the rodrtion 22C as a pivot aswell as around the tr 'on 26 as a pivot which isat right angles to the turning permitted by the arm portion 22C.

A brake is associated/with the internal shaft I3 for holding this shaftwhen\ desired. 'I'his brake comprises a rod 21 extending radiallyfromthe tower and provided with a handle 28 'at vits outer end by which it.may be moved. 'This rod is slidablysupported and at Aits inner end isprovided witha brake shoe 29 adapted to engage against a pulley 30 whichis fixed upon the shaft I3. Thus, the handle 28 may be moved to engagethe brake shoe 29 against the pulley to hold the internal shaft.

The hollow tower I includes a hollow pedestal portion I0 to which ahollow tubular portion IIlb is connected. A substantially sphericalportion |8 is mounted upon the upper portion lob and encases the motorI8, the drum I2 and the other parts in this vicinity. A bracket 33projects from the upper end of the internal'shaft vI3 and supports aball 34 upon-which a ilag o'r pennant 35 is mounted. A shell shapedcover 36 is supported 10 on the ball 35 and coopera-tes with thespherical portion I0 of the tower to encase the operative mechanism ofthe device.

The drum I2 is formed with a transverse partition I 28l which has a hubportion engaging the l5 upper end of the hollow shaft II. Several screwsI2b serve to iixedly attach the hub portion of the drum with the hollowshaft. Several thrust bearings 38 are interposed between the internalshaft.

I3 and the hollow shaft I I for rotatively connecting these shafts'together. The support member I4 is provided with an armI 39 extending inthe opposite direction to the arm 22. A counterweight 40 is mounted uponthe end of the arm 39 and is for the purpose of counterweighte ing theairplane 23. 4A brake is provided for stopping rotations of the hollowshaft II and comprises a brake drum 4I fixed upon the bottom end of thehollow shaft II and cooperative with a brake shoe 42 mounted upon therod 21 but diametrically opposite to the brake shoe 29. Thus, the rod 21may be moved in one direction for applying one brake, or in the otherdirection for applying the other brake.

'I'he operation of the device is as follows:

Rotations from the motor I8 will be transmitted to rotate the drum I2and thus the hollow shaft. II. The friction element I1 will cause theinternal shaft I3 to rotate along with the hollow shaft II andconsequently the support I4 will 40 turn around the tower as a. center.Thus, the airplane 23 is carried around the tower. The brake 29 may beapplied partially or completely. If partially applied the internal shaftI3 will turn at a different rate than the hollow shaft I I,

and a portion of therotations of the drum I2 will be transmitted to turnthe gear I5 and rotate the support I4. The airplane 23 will thenloopthe-loop in addition to its motion around the tower. If the brake iscompletely applied the airplane will merely loop-the-loop. The dot anddash lines in Flag. 2 illustrate another position of the airplane duringthe looping action. If the brake 42 is applied the entire device isbrought to astop. Of course, the motor I8 must be cut.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a modified form of the'invention has been disclosedwhich distinguishes from the prior form merely in the construction ofthe brake. In this form of the invention a frame 58 is mounted on theground and connected with 60 the side of the pedestal portion IIJa of-the tower. 'Ihe rod 21 is slidable in this frame. A lever 28a ispivotally mounted at its bottom end 28a upon the frame 50 and the rod 21has a bent end 21n connected intermediate of the lever 28a. Thus,

the levermay bepivoted in one direction or the other to apply thebrakes.

InFig. 10 another form of the invention has been disclosed whichdistinguishes from the prior form in several respects. The auxiliary arm39' supports a counterweight 40' for the airplane. This counterweight isthreadedly associated with the rod 39.so that it maybe adjusted tovarious positions to compensate for loads carried by the airplane.Furthermore, in this device a rheostat 5I is provided for the purpose ofcontrolling the speed of the motor I8. 'Ihe wiring is not illustrated onthe vdrawings since it forms no part of the invention. A-furthervariation resides in the fact that merely the internal shaft I3 isprovided with the brake 29, 3Il. In other respects this form of theinvention is identical tothe previous form and similar parts may berecognized by the same reference numerals.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 the toyairplane device comprises a hollow tubular tower 60 supported on a`hollow pedestal 6I and at the top end supporting a hollow sphericalmember 62. A hollow shaft 63 is rotative through the tower 60. Aninternal shaft 64 is rotative through the hollow shaft 83. A

lsupport member 65 is fixed on the extended end of the internal shaft. Aloop-the-lop airplane mechanism 66 is rotatively mounted on the supportmember 65. A drive is provided for the loop-the-loop airplane mechanismand essentially comprises a driver wheel 61 fixed on the hollow tubularshaft 63 and driving a wheel 68 connected with an arm 69 which supportsthe airplane 66. A flanged wheel 18 is mounted upon the bottom end ofthe hollow shaft 64. A brake wheel 1I is mounted on the lower end of theinternal shaft 64.

A motor 12 is mcvably supported and has a drive pinion 13 engageableagainst the flanges of the said flanged wheel 10. A mechanism isprovided for manually moving said motor which includes a rod 14associated with resilient ele- 4 ments 15 and 84 which in turn areassociated with the motor 12. A brake 16 is associated with theresilient elements 15 and 84 and is engageable i against said brakewheel 1I.

The support member 65 is formed with a horizontal bearing portionthroughwhich a portion 69 of the rod 69 passes. The rod 69 continues from oneend`of the portion 69. From the other end there is an extension 69E. Aweight 10 is adjustably mounted upon the extension 69 and is for thepurpose of counterbalancing the arm 69 and the airplane 66. A trailerrod 1I is attached intermediate of the ends of the rod 69. A bearing 18is mounted upon the inner Wall at the top of the spherical member 62 andserves to assist in rotatively supporting the support member 65.

The flanged wheel A10 has flanges 10 and 10b. The pinion 13 engagesbetween these flanges. The pinion 13 is driven bya gear system 19connected with the motor 12.

tached upon the side wall of the motor 12. The

motor is pivotally supported by a pintle 8| on a -bracket 82 mountedupon the pedestal 6I. l A rod 83 is slidable through the bracket 80.Coaxial springs 84 and 15 are mounted upon the rod 83. A'universal joint85 connects the rod 83 with the rod 14. A handle 88 is arranged on theend of the rod 14 by which it may be moved.

The operation of the device is as follows:-

The handle 88 vmay be moved in one direction or the other to cause thedevice to operate in various manners. For example, when the handle 88 ismoved towards the right the motor 12 will pivot so that the drive pinion13 engages the flange 18a. This will cause the hollow shaft 63 to rotatein one direction. The internal shaft 64 frictionally engages the hollowshaft 63 and rotates -with it. Consequently, the support 65 rotates andthe airplane l6I travels in a circle about the tower. The hollowspherical top 62 has a rotative top section 62 which rotates along withthe support member 65.

A bracket is at- -IIl When the handle 88 is pulled further to the rightthe rod 83 will be moved against the restraining action of the springs15 and 84 and soon one of the brakes 16 will engage the wheel 1I. Thenthe internal shaft 64 is reduced in speed or completely fixedly held.Since the support member 65 is connected with the internal shaft 64 itwill be reduced in speed or held, consequently the drive disc 61 whichis moving along with the hollow shaft 63 will now rotate the disc 68 andcause the arm 69 to rotate and loop-the-loop the airplane 66'. When thehandle is moved towards the left the motor 62 will pivot so that thedrive pinion 'I3-engages the flange 10b. The device will now be rotatingin the opposite direction'. When the brake 16 reengages the brake wheel1l the airplane will be caused to loop-the-loop.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein. disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by'United States Letters Patent lisz-- 1. A toy airplane,comprising a hollow tower, a vertical hollow shaft rotatively supportedin said tower, a drum coaxially fixed on the upper end of saidhollow-shaft, an internal shaft rotatively supported in said hollowshaft and extending from the top thereof, a support member rotativelymounted on the extended portion of said internal shaft and connectedwith a gear meshing with gear teeth on said drum, an element causingfrictional engagement of said shafts, a motor driving said drum, aradial arm projecting from said support member for supporting anairplane, and a brake for holding said internal shaft against rotation.

2. A toy airplane, comprising a hollow tower, a'vertical hollow shaftrotatively supported in said tower, a drum coaxially fixed on the upperend of said hollow shaft, an internal shaft rotatively supported in saidhollow shaft and extending from the top thereof, a support memberrotatively mounted on the extended portion of said internal shaft andconnected with a gear meshing with gear teeth on said drum, an ele-Vment causing frictional engagement of said shafts, a motor driving saiddrum, a radial arm projecting from said support member for sup-` portingan airplane, and a brake for holding said internal shaft againstrotation, and thrust bearings being arranged between the internalshafts.

3. A toy airplane, comprising a hollow tower, a vertical hollow shaftrotatively supported in said tower, a drum coaxially vfixed on the upperend of said hollow shaft, an internal shaft rotatively supported in saidhollow shaft and extending from the top thereof, a support memberrotatively mounted on the extended portion of said internal shaft andconnected with a gear meshing with gear teeth on said drum, an elementcausing frictional engagement of said shafts, a motor driving said drum,a radial arm projecting from said support member for support,- ing yanairplane, and a brake for holding said internal shaft against rotation,said support memberbeing provided with radially extending arms, anairplane being mounted upon one of the arms and` counterweight on'theother, and a universal end of said hollow shaft an internal shaftrotativelysupported in said hollow shaft and extending from the topthereof, a support member rotatively mounted 'on the extended portion ofsaid internal shaft and connected with a gear meshing with gear teeth onsaid drum, an element causing frictional engagement of said shafts, amotor driving said drum, a radial arm projecting from said supportmember for supporting an airplane, a brake for holding said in`ternal-shaft against rotation, and a brake for holding said hollowshaft.

5. A toy airplane comprising a hollow tower, a vertical hollow shaftrotatively supported in said tower, a drum coaxially fixed on the upperend of said hollow shaft, an internal shaft `rotatively supported insaid hollow shaft, and extending from the top thereof, a support memberrotatively mounted on the extended portion of said internal shaft andconnected with a gear meshing with gear teeth on said drum, an elementcausing frictional engagement of said shafts, a motor driving said drum,a radial arm projecting from said support member for supporting anairplane,

and a brake for holding said internal shaft f against rotation, saidtower including a hollow pedestal, a tubular intermediate portion, and ahollow spherical top portion encasing the drum and other parts of thedevice.

6. A toy airplane comprising a hollow tower, a vertical hollow shaftrotatively supported in said tower, a drum coaxially xed on the upperend of said hollow shaft, an internal shaft rotatively supported in saidhollow shaft and extending from the top thereof, a support memberrotatively mounted on the extended portion of said internal shaft andconnected with a gear meshing with gear teeth on said drum, an elementcausingI frictional engagement of said shafts, a motor driving saiddrum, a radial arm projecting from said support member for supporting anairplane, and a brake for holding said internal shaft 'against rotation,comprising a brake drum fixed on the shaft, a rod slidably mounted andprovided with a brake shoe engageable against the brake drum, and anelement by which the rod may be moved.

7. A toy airplane comprising a hollow tower, a hollow shaft rotativethrough said tower, an internal shaft rotative through said hollowshaft, a support member fixed on an extended end of saidinternal shaft,a loop-the-loop airplane mechanism rotatively mounted on said supportmember, a drive for said loop-the-loop airplane mechanism connected withsaid internal shaft, a flanged wheel on said hollow shaft, a brake wheelon'the other end of said internal shaft, a motor movably supported andhaving a drive pinion engageable against the an'ges of said anged wheel,a mechanism for manually moving said motor including a resilientelement, and a brake associated with said resilient element andengageable with said brake wheel.

8. A toy airplane comprising a hollow tower, a hollow shaft rotativethrough said tower, an internal shaft rotative through said hollowshaft, a support member fixed on an extended end ofY said internalshaft, a loop-the-loop airplane mechanism rotativelyl mounted on saidsupport member, a drive for said loop-the-loop airplane l mechanismconnected with said internal shaft, a

iianged wheel on said hollow shaft, a brake wheel on the other end ofsaid internal shaft, a motor movably supported and having a drive pinionengageable against the flanges of said iianged wheel, a mechanism -formanually moving said motor including a'resilient element, and a brakeassociated with said resilient element and engageable with said brakewheel, and comprising a pair of brake shoes arranged on opposite sidesof said brake wheel, an operator rod connected with said brake shoes andconstituting an operator for said mechanism for manually moving themotor. whereby when the rod is moved in oneI direction one of the brakeshoes engages thev brake Wheel, and when moved in the other directionthe other brake shoe engages the brake wheel.

9. A toy aeroplane, comprising a hollow tower, a vertical hollow shaftrotatively supported in said tower, a drum coaxially nxed on the upperend of said hollow shaft and having gear teeth thereon, an internalshaft rotatively supported in said hollow shaft and having a portionextending from the top thereof, a support member rotative on saidextended end and connected with a gear meshing with said gear teeth, asource of power adapted to rotate said drum, a pair of diametricaliyopposite radially extending arms, projecting i'romsaid support member,an aeroplane mounted on one of said arms, a brake mechanism adapted toretard the rotating motion of said inner shaft to permit said aeroplaneto loop-the-loop, and a weight on the other oi' said arms tocounterbalance the weight of said aeroplane so4 as to require less forceto make said aeroplane loop-the-loop.

FREDERIC A. CHRISTIANSEN.

